J.C. PENNEY, GENERAL MOTORS, LEXUS, ALLSTATE AMONG AWARD RECIPIENTS AT 2012 GLAAD AMPLIFIER AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE OMNICOM GROUP

Wilson Cruz hosts official Advertising Week event presented by Ketel One and Ketchum

New York, NY, October 3, 2012 – Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge (The Amazing Race, The Fabulous Beekman Boys), Janet Mock (writer and advocate), Christian Campbell (Big Love), Isis King (model and designer), and Ryan Serhant (Million Dollar Listing New York) were among the special guests who joined GLAAD to honor outstanding images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in public relations and advertising at the 2012 GLAAD Amplifier Awards, held Tuesday, October 2nd in New York City.

Actor and advocate, Wilson Cruz hosted the event which elevates and promotes individuals and projects in the advertising and public relations industries for groundbreaking representations of the LGBT community.

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"Tonight's nominees and award recipients set new industry standards which underline the value of gay and transgender consumers," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. "More and more companies are moving toward campaigns that include LGBT people, not only as potential customers, but as part of the American cultural fabric."

Nominees for the 2012 GLAAD Amplifier Awards were printed, broadcast or appeared online between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012. Nominees were selected by a jury comprised of staff members from Omnicom Group, Deutsch, Digitas Health, Ketchum, Omnicom Media Group, Publicis Kaplan Thaler, TBWA.

Leveraging GLAAD's media advocacy and anti-LGBT defamation resources, GLAAD's Advertising Media Program proactively advances inclusion of the LGBT community in mainstream advertising through advocacy work at advertising agencies and corporate advertising departments. GLAAD maintains an online library of over 4,000 LGBT-inclusive ads at http://www.glaad.org/advertising.

About GLAAD: GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.

About GLAAD

GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. More about GLAAD >>